Paediatric anaesthesia
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Difficult airway management in children is associated with significant morbidity. This narrative review on error traps in airway management aims to highlight the common pitfalls and proposes solutions to optimize best practices for pediatric difficult airway management. We have categorized common errors of pediatric difficult airway management into three main error traps: preparation, performance, and proficiency, and present potential strategies to improve patient safety and successful tracheal intubation in infants and children with difficult airways.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Dec 2021
ReviewVolatile anesthetic agents for life-threatening pediatric asthma: A multicenter retrospective cohort study and narrative review.
Volatile anesthetic agents are described as rescue therapy for children invasively ventilated for critical asthma. Yet, data are currently limited to case series. ⋯ For intubated children for asthma, no differences in mechanical ventilation duration or mortality between those with and without volatile anesthetic exposure were observed. Although volatiles may represent a viable rescue therapy for severe cases of asthma, definitive, and prospective trials are still needed.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Dec 2021
Randomized Controlled TrialThe effect of oxygen concentration on atelectasis formation during induction of general anesthesia in children: A prospective randomized controlled trial.
In adults, the use of lower oxygen concentration during induction is associated with less atelectasis formation without an increase in incidence of hypoxia. However, it is unknown whether this remains true in the pediatric patients. ⋯ Lower oxygen concentration during anesthetic induction is associated with less atelectasis formation immediately after anesthetic induction in children. In addition, applying 80% oxygen instead of 100% oxygen is not enough to prevent atelectasis formation, and 60% oxygen should be applied to prevent atelectasis. However, this effect does not last until the end of surgery.
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Oxycodone pharmacokinetics have been described in premature neonates through to obese adults. Covariate influences have been accounted for using allometry (size) and maturation of oxycodone clearance with age. The target concentration is dependent on pain intensity that may differ over pain duration or between individuals. ⋯ Simulation was used to suggest loading and maintenance doses to attain an oxycodone concentration of 35 mcg.L-1 predicted in adults. Although the covariates age and weight contribute 92% variability for clearance, there remains variability accounting for 16% of concentrations outside the target range. Duration of analgesic effect after ceasing infusion is anticipated to be longer in neonates where context-sensitive halftime is greater than older children and adults.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Dec 2021
Clinical TrialPoint-of-care ultrasound to confirm endotracheal tube cuff position in relationship to the cricoid in the pediatric population.
Anatomically, the subglottic area and the cricoid ring are the narrowest portions of the larynx. To limit the potential for damage related to mucosal pressure injuries from the presence of an endotracheal tube, the cuff should be placed below the cricoid in children. Previously, no clinical or imaging method has been used in real time to determine the exact location of the endotracheal tube cuff after endotracheal intubation. Point-of-care ultrasound may provide an option as a safe and rapid means of visualizing the endotracheal tube cuff and its relationship to the cricoid ring thereby achieving ideal endotracheal tube cuff positioning-below the cricoid. ⋯ Point-of-care ultrasound provides a rapid and effective means of identifying the position of the endotracheal tube cuff in relationship to the cricoid ring. The technique may have applications in the perioperative arena, emergency departments, and intensive care units.